Nature Names for Tourists

Local names for distinctive Caribbean wildlife

English French Spanish scientific
açaí or assai » palm 
African tulip or Nile tulip or scarlet bell or fountain tree; tulipan; flame of the forest tulipier du Gabon; pis pis SC; pisse l'eau RE tulipero del Gabón; tulipán africano, llama del bosque CR Spathodea campanulata
agave; (American or flowering or spiked) aloe; American agave or century; century plant;  miracle of nature agave; agavé; "aloès"? (incl. sisal) magüey (liso); pita Eur?; penca azul PE? henequén (agave?) Agave americana
agouti; common agouti agouti agutí Dasyprocta spp.
ahi » tuna
alligator, American alligator d´Amérique  aligátor americano  Alligator mississippiensis
alligator pear » avocado
allspice; Jamaica pepper quatre or toutes épices; piment de la Jamaïque pimienta de jamaica; pimenta gorda Pimenta dioica (formerly P. officinalis)
almond, West Indian WI; Indian almond IO amandier tropical or indien or des Indes;  badamier IO almendro indio or de playa or de la India; almendrón VE Terminalia catappa
aloe » agave
amaranth; callaloo; pigweed amarante amaranto; bledo; yuyo; pira; ataco; carurú Amaranthus spp.
anaconda anaconda anaconda Eunectes spp.
angel's trumpet » datura?
anhinga; snakebird; American darter; water turkey anhinga d’Amérique; canard plongeur (GF?) pato aguja or aninga; marbella, corua real WI Anhinga anhinga
ant, bullet hormiga bala Paraponera clavata
ant, leafcutter or leafcutting or harvester or fungus-garden fourmi parasol or champignoniste hormiga quitasol; sauba Atta spp. etc.
anteater fourmilier hormiguero; oso hormiguero Vermilingua
anthurium; flamingo flower; painter's palette; oilcloth plant anthurium; sijin bois DM antúrio? Anthurium spp.
antrova » aubergine
apricot, St. Domingo  » mammee
arapaima; pirarucu; paiche  paiche; pirarucu; arapaïma  paiche; pirarucú; arapaima  Arapaima gigas
arsnicker » heron
aubergine Eur; eggplant NAm; antrova, troba AG; melongena Tob; baranjely (Malagasy); brinjal India aubergine; bringelle IO berenjena Solanum melongena
avocado; alligator pear avocatier (tree); avocat (fruit) aguacate Persea americana
banana; fig WI banane (déssert) plátano; banana/–o; guineo (PR etc.) Musa spp.
banana or Marley quit; banana or paw-paw or sugar bird; yellow-breast; Bessie Coban; honey-sucker; yellow or black see-see sucrier siguita, gusanero WI; reinita WI, VE; reinita mielera, pinchaflor, Santa Maria CR Coereba flaveola
barracuda, great barracuda; bécune picuda (barracuda) Sphyraena barracuda
bay or bay rum or bay leaf tree; bayberry; wild cinnamon bois d'Inde malagueta Pimenta racemosa or acris
beefwood » casuarina
Bequia-sweet » grackle
Bessie Coban » banana quit
bitlin » heron
blackbird: IO » bulbul; WI » grackle
black-eyed susan marguerite jaune CA? ojo del poeta CU Rudbeckia hirta
blue Jean » tanager
boa, common boa constricteur; tête-chien WI boa; tragavenado VE Boa constrictor
boa, Cuban majá (de Santa Maria) CU Epicrates angulifer
boa, rainbow boa arc-en-ciel  Epicrates spp.
boat-tail » grackle
bois canoe » trumpet tree
bonito, Atlantic or belted  bonite à dos rayé; pélamide bonito (atlántico); sarda; cabaña blanca VE Sarda sarda
bosun bird » tropicbird
boto » dolphin, pink
bougainvillea bougainvillea, bougainvillée buganvilla; trinitaria Pap Bougainvillea
Brazil nut noix du Brésil or d'Amazonie  nuez de Brasil; castaña de monte  Bertholletia excelsa
Brazil wood; pernambuco pernambouc; bois-brésil or de Pernambouc pernambuco Caesalpinia echinata
breadfruit arbre à pain (tree); fruit à pain fruit) fruta/árbol de(l) pan; pan de (todo el) año or de palo or de ñame; mazapán; panapén Artocarpus communis or altilis or incisa
brinjal » aubergine
brown trembler trembleur (brun); grive trembleuse  temblador castaño  Cinclocerthia ruficauda
bullfinch, Cuban; black sparrow WI negrito; come-ñame? Melopyrrha nigra
bullfinch, lesser Antillean; red-breast; robin, red-throat, see-see, (brown) sparrow (female ?) WI rouge-gorge WI? come-ñame PR? also » negrito Loxigilla noctis
bullock's heart » custard apple
caiman, large or black caïman noir  caimán negro  Melanosuchus niger
caiman, spectacled caïman à lunettes or commun   caimán de anteojos; cachirre; baba; babilla  Caiman crocodilus 
calabash calebassier (tree); calebasse (fruit) calabaza/–o; güira CU;  higüero; guacal; totumo; jícara Crescentia cujete
callaloo » taro and » tannia and » amaranth
campeche; campeachy; logwood campêche; campêcher campeche; palo de campeche or de sangre Haematoxylon campechianum
candiru; toothpick fish candirú Vandellia cirrhosa
candlewood » gommier
cannonball or carrion tree Couroupita guianensis
capybara capybara carpincho, capincho, capibara   AR, UY; chigüire AR, VE; chigüiro CO; ronsoco PE; poncho PA Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
carambola; star-fruit carambole carambola Averrhoa carambola
Carib wood bois caraïbe Sabinea carinalis
carrion crow BS » vulture
cashew acajou or cajou (à pommes); anacardier; pomme-cajou GP, MQ; noix de cajou RE merey; (jocote) marañón; cajuil; pajuil; acajú; anacardo; cashu Pap Anacardium occidentale
French cashew » jamalac
cassava » manioc
castor oil tree ricin higuera (infernal or del diablo); higuerillo (blanco or rojo); higuerilla; higuereta; ricino Ricinus communis
casuarina; beef- or ironwood; she-oak; willow; whistling or Australian pine; horsetail casuarina; filao MU, RE, MG, LC; pin d'Australie pino australiano; casuarina CU Casuarina equisetifolia
cat, little spotted » oncilla
cat, long-tailed spotted » margay
cat's or pussy or monkey tail; chenille queue de chat or de mimi(t); chenille rabo de gato Acalypha hispida
cedar, white WI; pink trumpet tree; (pink) tecoma poirier (pays) WI; kalis dipap SC; tecoma Tabebuia pallida or pentaphylla
century plant » agave
chachalaca, rufous-vented; cocrico Trin, Tob ortalide à ventre roux or à queue rousse guacharaca Ortalis ruficauda
châtaignier châtaignier DM, LC terciopelo? Sloanea spp.
chayote, chow-chow » christophene
chenille » cat's tail
cherimoya chérimole chirimoya? also » anona colorada Annona cherimola
chestnut, Guyana or American » provision tree
chitee-churo » tropicbird
christophene; chayote esp. NAm; chow-chow christophine; chou-chou(t) IO chayote; cho-cho CR? Sechium edule
chub Car » parrot fish
chuck » heron
cinnamon, wild » bay rum tree
ching-ching, cling-cling » grackle
coati(–mundi) coati coatí; cusumbo Nasua spp.
cobbler » frigate-bird
cocoa tree cacaoyer cacáo Theobroma cacao
cocoyam: new » tannia; old » taro
cocrico » chachalaca
coffee tree caféier café Coffea arabica
colocolo » pampas cat
conch lambis cambute, caracol, cobo, concha LAm; carrucha PR Strombus spp.
copinol » courbaril
coral tree; (mountain) immortelle WI immortelle? poró CR; bucaré CU, VE; cámbulo, barbatusco CO; cachimbo  VE; amasisa PE; pito GT, HN Erythrina spp.
corbeau Trin » vulture
cotton tree » kapok tree
cougar » puma
courbaril; (West Indian) locust; copinol; flour tree courbaril curbaril; courbaril; algarrobo CO, PR; guapinol SV? Hymenaea courbaril
coyote; prairie or brush or little wolf coyote coyote Canis latrans
coypu Eur; nutria NAm coipo; coipú; perro de agua CO, SV Myocastor coypus
crocodile crocodile cocodrilo Crocodylus spp.
cush-cush; (Indian yam?) couche-couche ñame (ñame de la India, yampi, mapuey, tabena CO, sacha papa PE?) Dioscorea trifida
custard apple; common custard apple; bullock's heart cachiman; coeur de boeuf anona colorada or de redecilla; corazón; mamón; riñón; chirimoya CU; anonillo Annona reticulata
darter » anhinga
dasheen » taro and » tannia
datura; angel's trumpet? datura datura Datura
deer cerf ciervo (esp Eur?); venado (esp LAm?)
white-tailed deer cerf de Virginie; biche des palétuviers GF venado cola blanca or coliblanco Odocoileus virginianus
diablotin Trin, Tob » oilbird
divi-divi, divi-livi etc. dividivi; nacascolo CR Caesalpinia coriaria
doctor bird » humming-bird
dolphin, grey; tucuxi tucuxi bufeo negro Sotalia fluviatilis
dolphin, pink; boto dauphin de l'Amazonie; boto delfín rosado; tonina; boto; bufeo colorado  Inia geoffrensis
dolphin-fish; mahi-mahi HI dorade, daurade Car (& IO?); coryphène dorado (común); delfín CAm; lampuga Eur? Coryphaena hippurus
eagle aigle águila
harpy (eagle) harpie águila (h)arpía; aguilucho CR; águila churuquera, miquera CO Harpia harpyja
sea eagle; also » osprey pygargue pigargo Haliaeetus spp.
earpod or elephant's ear tree » guanacaste
eddo » taro
eel, electric anguille or gymnote électrique anguila eléctrica; temblón; temblador; pilaké  Electrophorus electricus
eggplant » aubergine
egret, cattle; cattle gaulin WI; white gaulin GD crabier garde-boeuf WI; héron garde-boeuf CA; madame Paton SC garza africana or ganadera; garrapatosa; garcilla bueyera; garza del ganado CR; garza mediana Gal Bubulcus ibis
elephant's ear » taro
fancy Anna » flamboyant
fer-de-lance; lancehead  fer-de-lance; trigonocéphale (B. lanceolatus) barba amarilla, cuatro narices (B. atrox); terciopelo (B. asper); víbora de la cruz, yarará (B. alternatus) Bothrops spp.
fern, tree or giant  fougère arborescente; fanjan IO helecho arbóreo; helecho gigante PR Cyathea
fiddler » solitaire
fig WI » banana and » plantain
fit weed Tob? shadow benny? Tob; wild coriander? chardon béni; herbe à fer GP, MQ culantro coyote or de monte or de burro; sacha or siuca culantro (suico?) Eryngium foetidum
flamboyant; flame tree; peacock flower; (royal) poinciana; fancy Anna; flame of the forest flamboyant flamboyán or framboyán (rojo); árbol del matrimonio CU; acacia roja CO; árbol de fuego Delonix regia
flame of the forest » flamboyant; and » African tulip tree
flamingo, Caribbean flamant (rose); tokoko GF; also » ibis and spatule flamenco Phoenicopterus ruber ruber
flamingo flower » anthurium
flour tree » courbaril
flying fish poisson volant; exocet volador; golondrina Exocoetus volitans
fountain tree » African tulip tree
frangipani; pagoda or temple tree frangipanier flor blanca CR? Plumeria spp.
French cashew » jamalac
frigate bird frégate fragata; rabihorcado? Fregata spp.
magnificent frigate or man o' war bird; hurricane bird, scissors(–tail), cobbler WI frégate (superbe); (queue–en–) ciseaux WI; goelan GF rabihorcado (magno); tijereta (del mar); rabijunco WI; tijerilla PR; zopilote de mar CR Fregata magnificens
ganuche » pelican
gaulin » heron and » egret
Geoffroy's cat chat de Geoffroy gato montés  Oncifelis geoffroyi
gibnut » paca
ginup etc. » kenip
glory cedar LC? (blackwood; forest lilac; quick stick JM) glicéria MQ; savonnier des Antilles? bien vestido CU; madero negro CR, CO; matarratón CO, EC Gliricidia sepium
god bird » humming-bird
God tree » kapok tree
golden apple pomme or prune cythère; evi RE jobo (indio or de la India); yuplón CR Spondias dulcis
golden trumpet; yellowbell AG allamanda; jaune grimpant RE alamanda; copa de oro or de mantequilla; trompeta dorada; cantiva; canario Allamanda cathartica
gommier; candlewood; tabonuco gommier (blanc?) Car tabonuco PR Dacryodes excelsa
grackle quiscale; merle WI clarinero, zanate CR, MX Quiscalus spp.
Carib grackle; blackbird, Bequia-sweet WI; green-tea sweet GD; boat-tail Trin, Tob quiscale merle; merle WI Quiscalus lugubris
Greater Antillean grackle; cling-cling, tinkling WI; ting-ting JM; ching-ching KY quiscale noir; merle HT chango; chichinguaco; hachucha; mozambique; hachuela; quiebra CU; chinchilín DO; pichón prieto PR Quiscalus niger
Nicaraguan grackle quiscale du Nicaragua clarinero nicaragüense Quiscalus nicaraguensis
granadilla » passion fruit
grass cat » pampas cat; 
green-tea sweet » grackle
ground nut » peanut
grouper mérou Eur; vieille WI, IO mero Epinephelus spp.
guacharo » oilbird
guanabana » soursop
guanacaste; elephant's or mulatto or monkey-ear or earpod tree guanacaste; tamboril? guanacaste; orejero CO; tamboril; oreja de mono Enterolobium cyclocarpum
guava goyave guayaba; guyaba Pap Psidium spp.
(common) guava goyave (pomme) guayaba Psidium guajava
Brazilian or Castilian or wild guava güísaro CR; guayaba ácida or brava or sabanera etc. Psidium guineense
Costa Rican guava cas CR; guayaba (ácida or agria or montés etc.) Psidium friedrichsthalianum
strawberry or (red) cattley or Chinese guava; lemon or yellow cattley guava (P. cattleianum lucidum) goyave fraise; goyave de Chine MU, SC; goyavier RE guayaba japonesa or peruano; cas dulce CR Psidium cattleianum or littorale
gumbo » okra
gumbo-limbo NAm; "tourist tree" gommier rouge almácigo CU; indio desnudo CR; "árbol del turista" Bursera simaruba
halari » jaguarundi
harpy » eagle
hawk, broad-winged or chicken; chicken-eater WI malfini; manger-poulet Cr? petite buse CA gavilán aludo; gavilán bobo, guaraguao de bosque WI; gavilán pollero CR; aguililla ala-ancha MX Buteo platypterus
hawk, fish » osprey
heron; gaulin WI (true herons) héron; crabier WI garza Ardeinae
great blue heron; grey gaulin, arsnicker, morgan WI gironde; crabier noir WI? crabier bleu LC; grand héron CA garzón (azulado); garcilote, guardacosta, garzón cenizo WI; garza ceniza CR; garza morena MX Ardea herodias
little blue heron; blue or white gaulin WI crabier noir or blanc; aigrette bleue or blanche garza azul or blanca or común or pinta WI; garceta azul CR Egretta or Florida caerulea
green(–backed) heron; striated heron esp Old World; little or lees pond gaulin, water witch, poor Joe, bitlin WI; chuck, gaulin Trin, Tob héron vert or strié; kio, cra-cra, rac-rac, caïali, valet de caïman, crabier WI; mannique SC aguaita caimán, martinete, cagón, caga-leche, cuaco WI; chocuaco, garcilla verde, martín peña CR; garceta verde MX Butorides virescens (esp New World) or striatus (esp Old World)
hibiscus hibiscus hibisco; (majagua?) Hibiscus rosa sinensis
honey-sucker » banana quit
horsetail » casuarina
humming-bird; also god bird, doctor bird (according to species, WI) colibri; oiseau-mouche; also frou-frou, ouanga-négresse (according to species, WI); also » souimanga colibrí; pájaro-mosca; also zumbador, zumbaflor, zunzun (according to species, WI) Trochilidae
bee humming-bird colibri d'Hélène or abeille or Calypte zunzuncito; zumbete; pájaro mosca; trovador Mellisuga helenae
hura » sandbox tree
hurricane-bird » frigate-bird
ibis, scarlet ibis rouge; flamant GF corocora lacre CO Eudocimus ruber
immortelle » coral tree
ironwood » casuarina
jabiru jabiru d'Amérique  jabirú; tuyuyu  Jabiru mycteria 
jacaranda; (fern tree?) flamboyant bleu; barbatimao jacarandá; flamboyán azul; guarupa Jacaranda acutifolia or mimosifolia
jackfruit jacquier (tree); jacque (fruit) jaqueira, (castaño?) (tree); jaca (fruit) Artocarpus heterophylla
jaguar; tiger BZ jaguar jaguar; yaguar; also tigre VE Panthera onca
jaguarundi; otter cat; halari BZ jaguarondi león breñero CR; gato cerban HN; gato colorado or pardo or moro CO; tigrillo congo or negro PA Herpailurus or Felis yagouarondi
Jamaica pepper » allspice
jamalac?  French cashew GD? jamalac; pomme de Malaisie or de Tahiti? pomarrosa (de Malacca); manzana de montaña MX; pera; pomagás; pomagada; marañón japonés? Syzygium or Eugenia malaccense (or samarangense?)
jambolan; Java or Malabar plum etc. jamblon Syzygium or Eugenia cumini
jambu » rose apple
Japanese medlar » loquat
John Crow » vulture
kapok tree; (silk-) cotton tree; God tree kapokier; fromager; mapou; bois coton ceiba (de lana); pochote; bongo; also » jabillo Ceiba pentandra
kenip, ginup etc; mamoncillo; Spanish lime NAm quénette mamón (de Cartagena); mamoncillo; (also » anona colorada) Melicoccus bijugatus; Melicocca bijuga
kestrel, American  Eur; sparrowhawk NAm crécerelle d'Amérique cernícalo americano; cuyaya; halcón Falco sparverius
kingbird, grey GB, gray NAm; fighter; pick-peter etc.  pipiri(t) pitirre (abejero), titirre Tyrannus dominicensis
kingfish Tob (& LC?)» wahoo
kite, snail or Everglade milan des marais caracolero común; elanio or gavilán or milano caracolero Rostrhamus sociabilis
lady's finger » okra
lancehead » fer-de-lance
lead tree » tamarind, wild
leech sangsue sanguijuela Hirudinea
lime; Mexican or West Indian or Key lime citron vert; citron punch; lime; limette lima (ácida or agria or chica etc.) Citrus aurantifolia
lion tamarin tamarin lion tití-león; mono-león Leontopithecus
lobster
spiny lobster langouste Palinurus spp.
West Indian or Caribbean spiny lobster langouste langosta espinosa MX Palinurus argus
lobster claw balisier WI platanillo/–a CR Heliconia spp.
locust tree » courbaril
logwood » campeche
long-tail » tropicbird
loquat; Japanese medlar bibace, bibasse, nèfle du Japon (fruit); néflier du Japon (tree) nisperero de Japón (tree); níspero (del Japón) (fruit) Eryobotria japonica
macaw ara macagua; guacamaya/o; lapa CR Ara spp.
mace » nutmeg
mahi-mahi » dolphin-fish
mahoe? mahot cochon Sterculia caribaea
mahoe; blue or mountain mahoe mahot (bois-)bleu majagua (azul) Hibiscus elatus
mahogany, American or true etc acajou; mahogany caoba (americana or verdadera); caobo; mahogany Swietenia spp.
mammee(–apple); mamey; (St. Domingo) apricot mammea; abricotier pays or d'Amérique or de St-Domingue or des Antilles (tree); abricot etc. (fruit) mamey (amarillo or de Cartagena or de S. Domingo); zapote de niño Mammea americana
mamoncillo » kenip
manatee lamantin manatí (antillana or de las antillas) Trichechus manatus
manchineel mancenillier; arbre-poison (tree); mancenille (fruit) manzanillo (de playa) (tree); manzanilla (fruit) Hippomane mancinella
mango mangue; mango WI; mangue carotte RE mango Mangifera indica
mangosteen mangoustan mangostán (tree); mangosto (fruit) Garcinia mangostana
mangrove palétuvier; manglier mangle
manioc; cassava (root) manioc; cassave (root) mandioca; yuca (root) Manihot esculenta
man o' war (bird) » frigate-bird
margay; long-tailed spotted cat; tiger cat BZ margay; marguay tigrillo; gato tigre; pichigueta CAm; caucel CR, HN; gato montés CO Leopardus or Felis wiedii
Marley quit » banana quit
marlin makaire; macaire Istiophoridae (part)
black marlin makaire or macaire noir (or bleu?) aguja negra; marlín negro PA, PE;  pez zuncho CL? Makaira indica; (or Istiompax indicus)
blue marlin; taketonga makaire or macaire or marin bleu aguja azul; marlín azul MX; pez zuncho CL? Makaira nigricans; (M. mazara in Indo-Pacific?)
striped or barred marlin makaire strié; marlin rayé marlín rayado; pez aguja Tetrapturus (or Makaira)  audax
white marlin makaire or macaire blanc marlín azul or blanco; aguja blanca; also » aguja azul Tetrapturus albidus; (or Makaira albida)
marmoset ouistiti; marmouset tití Callithrix spp.
melongena » aubergine
miracle of nature » agave
mongoose mangouste mangosta Herpestes spp. etc.
monkey tail » cat's tail
monkey, capuchin capucin; sajou; sapajou mono capuchino Cebus
monkey, howler  hurleur; alouate, alouatte mono aullador; coto; araguato; carayá Alouatta spp.
monkey, squirrel saïmiri mono ardilla; fraile Saimiri
monkey nut » peanut
monkey-puzzle tree; Chile pine pehuén; pino araucano Araucaria araucana
morgan » heron
mosquito moustique; maringouin (esp. outside France) mosquito Culicidae
motmot momoto; pájaro bobo CR Momotidae
mountain lion » puma
mountain whistler » solitaire
mulatto or monkey-ear tree » guanacaste
Nile tulip tree » African tulip tree
nutmeg muscade, noix de nuez moscada Myristica fragrans
mace macis